Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) has started cleaning campaign in all 32 wards and the heritage sites ahead of Dashain festival.

Launching the campaign on Saturday, the metropolis cleaned the area from Thapathali to Babarmahal of Ward-11 and removed solid waste that filled four lorries.

Local residents, club members, and 50 police officers removed solid waste that included dust, weeds, and plastics.

Ward-11 Chairperson Hiralal Tandukar said, “Public participation in the cleaning drive was impressive today. It could be because Dashain is nearing and everyone is concerned about keeping their area free of dust and weeds.”

Environment Division Chief Hari Bahadur Kunwar said, “The metropolis has been carrying out the cleanup drive with the motto ‘Clean Kathmandu’ every week. This cleaning drive is special because every ward has taken the initiative to clean its area. We want our metropolis clean at all times. The cleaning drive will continue after the festival is over.” Besides main roads, Kunwar said the metropolis is also giving priority to clean religious heritage sites, and inner alleys of all wards.

“The metropolis is focused on keeping religious places clean because people visit Hindu temples during the festival,” said Kunwar. 

During the festivals, there is a general trend of cleaning the neighbourhood as people want to see their

tole free of weeds, garbage and dust. The mobility of people during Dashain is high as the majority of people visit their relatives and neighbours houses to receive Tika.  

Apart from cleaning, Kunwar said, the metropolis will also regularly spray water on roads prevent dust flying around and adding to the air pollution.“We will try our best to keep the environment clean because public participation is high during festivals,” said Kunwar.